Carriers Are Hoarding America’s Bandwidth. Google Just Wants Them to Share
A bold plan to open up spectrum could rock the wireless industry and prove a $260 billion win for consumers. Guess-who would also make out all right.
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A Google-led plan to overhaul how valuable airwaves are used for calls and texts is gaining momentum across the wireless industry, giving the company the chance to play a central role in networks of the future.
Citizens Broadband Radio Service, or CBRS, is a fat slice of the U.S. airwaves being freed this year from the military’s exclusive control. Instead of just zipping messages between aircraft carriers and fighter jets, the spectrum will be shared by the Navy, wireless carriers like Verizon, cable companies including Comcast, and even hospitals, refineries and sports stadiums.